Grenadian sprint talent Nazzio John has secured an automatic qualification spot for the 2026 NCAA Division I National Track and Field Championships after a standout performance at the East Regional First Round qualifiers, while matching Grenada’s senior national record for the 200-meter event along the way.
Representing Ohio State University in the competition, John kicked off his campaign with a solid win in his opening heat, clocking a seasonal best time of 20.30 seconds to advance to the quarterfinal round. On May 29, running from lane 6 in the quarterfinals, the rising sprinter crossed the finish line first in his section with a time of 20.27 seconds, a result that ties the long-standing Grenadian senior national record for the 200m. He finished comfortably ahead of second-place finisher Trelee Banks of Indiana (20.33 seconds) and third-place Jaleel Croal of South Florida (20.41 seconds).
Per NCAA competition rules, the top three athletes from each quarterfinal heat earn automatic qualification to the national championships, pushing John through to the upcoming national event scheduled to run from June 10 to 13 at Eugene, Oregon’s iconic Hayward Field.
The achievement cements John’s status as one of the top collegiate sprinters in the United States, where NCAA Division I track and field draws more than 24,000 competing student-athletes nationwide. To reach the national stage, athletes must navigate a rigorous selection process: only the top 48 declared athletes gain entry to regional first-round competitions per event, and just 12 athletes from each of the East and West regions ultimately advance to the national championships. This selective process makes John’s qualification and record-tying performance all the more notable.
In a post-race interview, John expressed gratitude for the support that helped him reach the milestone: “I’m extremely thankful to my support team, both Coach Diego Flaquer and Joel Brown, for getting me prepared both physically and mentally.” Looking ahead to the national championships in Oregon, John laid out an ambitious goal: “My goal for Oregon is to cement my name as one of the fastest 200m runners in the NCAA and make it to the finals, even if that means being the first Grenadian to go sub-20.”
Beyond collegiate competition, John is currently among the top Grenadian athletes shortlisted to represent his home country at upcoming high-profile regional and international competitions, including the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games and the 2026 Commonwealth Games, which will take place between late July and early August 2026. Leadership from both the Grenada Athletic Association (GAA) and the Grenada Olympic Committee (GOC) have been closely tracking John’s consistent progress on the U.S. collegiate track circuit, and have shared that they are deeply impressed by his steady upward trajectory as a professional-caliber sprinter.